This year's Edinburgh International Film Festival will receive an extra £250,000 in funding.

Culture Minister Patricia Ferguson confirmed it would get an extra £150,000 from Scotland's film agency, Scottish Screen, which would in turn release another £50,000 from City of Edinburgh Council and £50,000 from the UK Film Council.

Ferguson said she wanted to make sure the festival would again be able to offer a varied and successful programme.

Festival managing director Ginnie Atkinson welcomed the news. She said: "This extra funding is a much needed investment and is an acknowledgement of the EIFF's importance in the arts in Scotland and internationally.

"This represents a significant increase in the public funding which enables us to maximise the impact of the festival and build for the future."